Vaporizer



Dec. 14-, 1943. PETERSON 2,336,635

VAPORIZER Filed Sept. 13, 1939 IN VENTOR.

ATTO EY.

Patented Dec. 14, 1943 VAPORIZER Gustav Axel Peterson, Stamford, (lonn assignor to Electrolux Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware I Application September 13, 1939, Serial No. 294,673

Claims. (01. 21-127) My invention relates to a vaporizer for vaporizing a solid which is capable of sublimation. Mor especially, my .invention relates to a vaporizer of this type which is adapted to be used in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner and which may be connected directly to an air flow opening in the cleaner. The vapor produced may be discharged directly from the vaporizer into the surrounding atmosphere, or a hose or other conduit may be connected to the outlet of the vaporizer for conducting the vapor to any desired locality.

My invention also includes an improved form of coupling device for releasably securing two fluid conveying elements together, and" more specifically for connecting the vaporizer to the vacuum cleaner.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification and of which- Fig. 1 is a side view of avaporizer in accordance with my invention connected to the outlet of a vacuum cleaner, and having a hose connected to the outlet of the vaporizer;

Fig. 2 is a view, chiefly in cross-section, of the vaporizer shown in Fig. 1, together with the portion of the vacuum cleaner to which the vaporizer is connected;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a member forming part of the vaporizer; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partially broken away, showing a vaporizer in accordance with the invention with the crystals in the position which they occupy immediately after having been placed therein.

Referring to the drawing, reference character ill designates generally the improved vaporizer in accordance with my invention. while reference character H designates a. vacuum cleaner unit to which the vaporizer is removably connected, and reference character I2 designates generally a hose or other conduit which may be connected to the vaporizer. As shown, the vacuum cleaner H is provided with runners l3 or other suitable means for supporting it in a substantially horizontal position. One end of the'vacuum cleaner is provided with an air inlet opening l4, while the other end is provided with an exhaust opening' I5. Exhaust opening I5 is formed in an end-cap 16, as is best seen from Fig. 2.

'As shown, vaporizer Ill constitutes a hollow body which may be made in two parts]! and I8,

' which are permanently joined together in aubstantially air-tight relationship along the seam IS. The part I1 is formed with an end portion 20 of reduced diameter. The external diameter of portion 20 is such that it fits closely within a a sleeve 2| secured within the exhaust opening l5.

This sleeve is formed with an inturned lip 22, the inner face of which is adapted to be engaged by projections 23 which are carried by latch members 24 and which project through apertures formed in the wall of end portion 20. One end of each latch member extends through an additional aperture in portion 20, so as to be accessible from outside the vaporizer, as is shown at 25. The opposite end of each latch member is pivotally mounted within a space 26 formed by turning in the end of portion 20. A circular spring 21 is arranged to engage the latch members 24 so as to tend to force them radially outwardly, thus causing both the projections 23 and the ends 25 to project as far as possible through their respective apertures. Each projection is formed with an inclined surface facing the end of portion 20 and a substantially radial surface facing in" the opposite direction.

portion-of which is such as to fit snugly within the intumed end of portion 20. In addition,

Jmember 28 is formed at one end with a reverse flange" 29, the inner diameter of which is such as to fit snugly over portion 20. Portion 20 is formed with a shoulder 30 against which the edge of flange 29 may seat, thus limiting inward movement of the member 28. The opposite end of member 28 is slit alonglines which lie in radial planes, as is indicated at 3|. The material adjacent to one side of each-slit is displaced pose.

inwardly so as to form opening 32 having substantial cross-sectional area. The walls of member 28 intermediate its ends may be formed with slight outwardly extending ridges 33, the purpose of which ,is to preventvaccidental displacement of the member should the frictional engagement between. the member and the.turned-.

ma be in all respects similar to the coupling carried by portion 20, The projections 23 or this coupling member engage the flange to e cou lin in place. Two vaporizers may b o iected in siries, as desired, by inserting the end portion 20 one in the end portion I4 of ioz ft e d within part It adjacent to the outlet opening formed by portion 34 is a perforated wall 38. This wall may consist of a fine screen or, as is shown, of a sheet or metal provided with perons l9.

l i i c tending inwardly from the rear wall 40 of member It or the vacuum cleaner is a plurality of rod-like members 4|, the inner ends of which support a plate 4.2. Slidably supported on rods 4! is a member 43 in the form of a rim bounding a central opening. A plurality of inclinedvanes 44 extend across this opening. A coil spring 45 is disposed between plate 42 and member 43 and tends to urge the member to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. When the vaporizer is not connected to the vacuum cleaner, this spring holds the member 42 against the shoulder 22 of sleeve 2|.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows:

When the vacuum cleaner is used for ordinary cleaning purposes,rthe hose i2 is connected to in the outlet opening and cause the air discharged therethrough from the motor-fan unit to be directed upwardly and away from the surface which supports the cleaner.

In the event that it is desired to employ the vaporizer, the member 28 is removed therefrom, thus providing an unobstructed entrance of substantial area into the vaporizer. The vaporizer is then preferably held in a vertical position, as

shown in Fig. 4 and suitable crystals, such asparadichlorobenzene are introduced through the unobstructed opening. Themember 28 is then inserted into the portion 20 and the vaporizer is connected to the outlet of the vacuum cleaner by merely placing the end thereof against the member 43 and pushing inwardly. This causes the member 43 to slide on the rods 4| while compressing the spring 45. When the projections 23 on the latch members 24 strike the outer edge of the shoulder 22, the inclined surface of the projections cause them to be displaced inwardly against the force of spring 21. However, as soon as the projections have passed the shoulder, spring 21 forces them outwardly and the radial surfaces thereon engage the inner edge of shoulder 22. Spring 45 urges member 44 against the end of the vaporizer, thus holding the projections tightly against this shoulder so as to provide a firm connection.

If it is desired to treat the entire space within which the cleaner may be located, for instance a closet. it is not necessary to connect the hose l2 to the outlet of the vaporizer, but the vapor may be discharged directly into such space. To do this the motor fan unit is started which causes air to be discharged between the vanes 44 into the interior of member 28. This air passes through the openings 32 and, because of the locaassaess tion and arrangement of these openings, it flows thereto in a tangential direction. This in turn results in a whirling of the air. within the vaporizer which picks up the crystals and keeps them in a constant state of agitation, thusincreasing the rate of vaporization. The crystals are whirled in a plane parallel to the plane or the perforated wall 28, whereby there is little tendency for them to be piled up against this wall by the air flowing through the perforations. The air and vapor formed within the vaporizer are discharged together through the portion 34.

If it is desired to convey the vapor to a space in which it is not convenient to place the vacuum cleaner, the hose 12 may be connected to the portion 34 of the vaporizer, and the other end of the hose. introduced into such space.

When it is desired to remove the vaporizer .i'rom the vacuum cleaner, it is merely necessary to press inwardly on the ends 25 of the latch members 24. This in turn causes the projections 22 to be retracted from engagement with the shoulder 22, whereupon the spring 4! acts to eject the vaporizer from the outlet oi thevacuum cleaner.

While I have shown one more or less specific embodiment of my invention, itis to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be considered as a limitation of my invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

.1. A vaporizer attachment for a pneumatically operated device comprising a, hollow body of sufllcient size to receive particles to be vaporized, said body having two openings therein, means to substantially prevent the escape of said particles through one of said openings while permitting the'fiow of air therethrough, a tube open at both ends extending outwardly from the other of said openings, 2. second tube open at both ends mounted within the first tube with its axis roughly parallel to that of the first tube, said second tube being sufliciently smaller in cross section than the first tube to provide a substantial space therebetween, means closing the end of said space at the end thereof furthest from said body, said second tube having impervious walls and extending at least substantially to said other ofsaid openings in said hollow body, means for substantially preventing the escape of said particles through said second tube and for guiding air flowing out of the second tube into the hollow body to cause it to leave the second tube in a generally radial direction, latch means disposed within said space for quick-detachably engaging an exhaust opening in said device, and manually operable means extending from said space through an aperture in the first tube for releasing said latch means.

2. A vaporizer attachment for a, pneumatically operated device comprising a hollow body of sufficient size to receive particles to be vaporized, said body having two openings therein, means to substantially prevent the escape of said particles through one of said openings while permitting the flow of air therethrough, a tube open at both ends extending outwardly from the other of said openings, a second tube open at one'end mounted concentrically within the first tube, the diameter of the second tube being sufliciently smaller than that of the first tube to provide an annular space therebetween, an outturned reverse flange on the open end of the second tube removablyengaging the free end of the first tube.

said free end being of sufficiently reduced diameter that the outer diameter of said reverse flange is no greater than the outer diameter of the first tube, said second tube having impervious walls and extending at least substantially to said other of said openings in said hollow body, the other end of said second tube being partially closed by a wall having apertures therein permitting air to flow therethrough, said wall substantially preventing the escape of said particles from said body, the portions of said wall adjacent said apertures being formed to direct air passing therethrough radially outward into said body, latch means disposed within said space for quickdetachably engaging an exhaust opening in said device, and manually operable means extendin from said space through an aperture in the first tube for releasing said latch means.

3. A vaporizer attachment for a'pneumatically operated device comprising a ficient size to receive particles to be vaporized, said body having two openings therein, means to substantially prevent the escape of said particles through one of said openings while permitting the flow of air therethrough, a tube open at both ends extending outwardly from the other of said openings, a second tube open at one end mounted concentrically within the first tube, the diameter of the second tube being sufficiently smaller than that of the first tube to provide an annular space therebetween, an outturned reverse fiange on the open end of the second tube removably engaging the free end of the first tube, said free end being of sufiiciently reduced diameter that the outer diameter ofsaid reverse flange is no greater than the outer diameter of the first tube, an inturned reverse flange on the free end of the first tube, the inner diameter of said inturned reverse flange being just large enough to receive and irictionally engage the outer diam-- eter or said second tube, said second tube having impervious walls and extending at least substantially to said other of said openings in said hollow body, the other end of said second tube being partially closed by a wall having apertures therein permitting air to flow therethrough, said wall substantially preventing the escape of said particles from said body, the portions of said wall adjacent said apertures being formed to direct air passing therethrough radially outward into said body, latch means disposed within said space for quick-detachably engaging an exhaust opening in said device, and manually operable means extending from said space through an aperture in the first tube for releasing said latch means.

4. A vaporizer attachment for a pneumatically operated device comprising a hollow body of sufficient size to relieve particles to 'be vaporized, said body having two openings therein, means to substantially prevent the escape of said particles through one or said openings while permitting the flow of air therethrough, a tube open at both ends extending outwardly from the other of said openings, 9. second tube open at one end mounted concentrically within the first tube, the diameter of the second tube being sufliciently smaller than that of thefirst tube to provide an annular space therebetween, an outturned reverse flange on the open end of the second tube removably engaging the free end of the first tube, said free end behollow body of sufsubstantially prevent the escape ing of sufliciently reduced diameter that the outer diameter of said reverse flange is no greater than the outer diameter of the first tube, an inturned reverse flange on the free end of the first tube, the inner diameter of said inturned reverse flange being just large enough to receive and frictionally engage the outer diameter of said second tube, slight protrusions on the otherwise cylindrical outer surface of said second tube, said protrusions lying just adjacent to the end of the inturned reverse flange on the side thereof adjacent the hollow body when said second tube is in place thereby resisting removal of said second tube, said second tube having impervious walls and extending at least substantially to said other of said openings in said hollow body, the other end of said second tube being partially closed by a, wall having apertures therein permitting air to fiow therethrough, said wall substantially preventing the escape of said particles from said body, the portions of said wall adjacent said aperture being formed to direct air pas in therethrough radially outward into said body, latch means'disposed withinsaid space for quick-de-- tachably engaging an exhaust opening in said device, and manually operable means extending rrom said space through an aperture in the first tube for releasing said latch means.

5. A vaporizer attachment operated device comprising a hollow body of sufficient size to receive particles to be vaporized, said body having two openings therein, means to of said particles through one of said openings while permitting theflow of air therethrough a tube open-at both ends extending outwardly from the other of said openings, a second tube open at one end mounted concentrically within the first tube, the diameter of the second tube being sufliciently smaller than that of the first tube to provide an annular space therebetween, an outturned reverse flange on the open end of the "second tube removably engaging the free end of the first tube. said free end being or sufiiciently reduced diameter that the outer diameter of said reverse flange is no' greater than the outer diameter of the first tube, an inturned reverse flange on the free end of the first tube, the inner diameter of said inturned reverse flange being just large enough to receive and fricticnally engage the outer diameter of said second tube, said second tube having impervious walls and extending at least substantially to said other of said openings in said hollow body, the other end of said second tube being partially closed by a wall having apertures therein permitting air to flow therethrough, said wall substantially preventing the escape of said particles from said body, the portions of said wall adjacent said apertures being formed to direct air passing therethrough radially outward into said-body, latch means disposed within said space for ouick-detachably engaging an exhaust opening in said device, said latch means comprising a member pivoted to the first tube within the annular space formed by the inturned reverse flange, and manually operable means extendin from said space through an aperture in the first tube for releasing said latch means.

GUSTAV ,AXEL PETERSON.

for a pneumatically 

